Chapter 128: The Skeleton Beauty and the Snake Spirit’s Victory

“Enough talk—come and face death!” At this moment, the skeletal woman was deaf to all reason. Her mind was consumed by a single word: kill. She resolved to slaughter everyone present, wiping out even the bitterness lodged deep within her heart. Without hesitation, she reached to her waist and drew forth a pale pink silk whip, lashing it fiercely at the crimson serpent spirit, showing no mercy whatsoever. Wherever the whip passed, it left devastation in its wake; anything it touched became unsightly and ruined.

The silk whip floated like a cloud in midair, seemingly soft, yet it struck with the weight of a thousand-pound iron chain. Any strike from it meant either a broken body or a swift journey to the underworld—death was certain. Coupled with the skeletal woman’s ruthless precision, targeting vital points with deadly intent, and the deep-seated hatred driving her to ensure their demise, it was clear that the crimson serpent spirit would face a grim challenge escaping her grasp. For the severely wounded Yu Shang and Ye Wangchen, rescuing the serpent spirit would be no easy feat.

But the crimson serpent spirit was no coward or fool. From the moment he revealed his true form, it was evident he had come prepared. Moreover, Yu Shang had already detected a hint of satisfaction in the serpent’s eyes. It seemed a thrilling battle was about to unfold. Ye Wangchen, too, watched eagerly as the two adversaries prepared to clash, his delight shining unmistakably from his gaze—anyone could see he had awaited this moment for a long time.

The serpent spirit swept his tail, hooking the approaching silk whip, then violently tossed it aside. The skeletal woman, caught off guard and unwilling to release her hold, was flung into a tree and then slammed to the ground. Yet she refused to yield; gritting her teeth against the pain, she rose and charged back at the triumphant serpent spirit with renewed fury. This time, she seized a moment and ensnared the serpent’s waist with the whip, binding him as she had the other two, rendering him powerless to resist.

Unexpectedly, the serpent’s body was slick and slippery. The silk whip could not tighten its grip. With a graceful leap, he slipped free without injury. The skeletal woman, frustrated, flung the whip into the air and raised her exposed bony hand to strike. The serpent spirit did not dodge; instead, he met her head-on, swiftly moving before her to entangle her in return.

The skeletal woman was taken aback, then frowned in frustration. How had she forgotten that serpents excel at constricting their prey? Close combat with him was a fool’s errand—a clash of egg against stone. She had fallen into his trap through carelessness and was courting death. Yet she quickly regained her composure. She was no longer the frail butterfly who once fled in fear. Now she possessed the strength to challenge the crimson serpent spirit. She would not surrender easily; if necessary, she would take him down with her in a final blaze.

With that resolve, she extended her clawed bones and slashed toward the serpent spirit. Unfortunately for her, his skin was as tough as ancient forged iron—her fragile bony claws could not penetrate. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, sharp black nails sprouted from her skeletal palm, gleaming ominously like daggers, capable of piercing a heart.

She raised both hands and drove those nails deep into the serpent’s body. Blood spurted forth, staining the ground. Yu Shang and Ye Wangchen felt a chill of dread at the sight. The serpent spirit roared, baring his fangs, and lunged to bite her fiercely. Yet he refused to relinquish his hold; instead, he tightened his grip as if unwilling to let go until death.

The skeletal woman, desperate, pressed her hand against his terrifying fangs but was cut deeply, turning the bones from white to black. Soon, her face grew pale as she clutched her neck, suffocating. The serpent spirit smirked triumphantly and tossed her aside, then shapeshifted back into his human guise. Now, no longer the serpent spirit but Xiao Yin, he strode swiftly toward an unusually lush tree.

Closing his eyes, he murmured incantations, as if invoking a secret technique. Gathering his inner energy, he struck the tree while biting his fingertip, allowing a drop of blood to flow into the wound. The tree trembled violently, but the branches that had ensnared Yu Shang and Ye Wangchen loosened and retreated along their original path. Soon, the tree returned to its pristine form. Xiao Yin withdrew his energy and approached them, glaring with impatience, demanding an explanation.

They exchanged silent looks, the air thick with unspoken tension. Finally, Xiao Yin exploded, “Do you have nothing to say? Don’t think your silence will make this go away! How could you associate with him? Don’t you understand where you stand? If Yan Xuesu finds out you’re secretly fraternizing, there’ll be hell to pay. You’ll regret it!” He spoke in a breathless torrent, leaving the others in awe of his composure despite the heated words.

“I will explain everything in due time. But right now, shouldn’t we consider what to do with her?” Yu Shang gestured toward the collapsed, pale skeletal woman. He did not wish to kill her outright—they were old acquaintances after all. There was no need to sever their ties so harshly. Yet if left alive, she would remain a threat. What was the best course? Was there a way to resolve this without leaving debts unpaid?

“I say, as the wildfires never end and spring winds revive the grass, we must cut the roots to prevent future troubles! Keeping her around is only a danger. Better to give her a clean end now, so her soul may find peace,” Ye Wangchen said coldly, staring at the suffering woman. To him, Yu Shang was too sentimental. She no longer saw them as anything; why should he cling to feelings that endangered them? The fewer threats, the better. If it were up to him, he would strike her down without hesitation or remorse.

“You’re right. For your future, no threat can be tolerated. Yes, she is an old acquaintance, and once shared beautiful memories with us. But she’s no longer that fragile butterfly. Releasing her would harm not only you but also innocent people,” Xiao Yin added patiently. This creature could not be spared. To show mercy now would only sow seeds of endless trouble.

Yu Shang took a deep breath, his gaze darkening. Raising his dagger, he stepped toward the skeletal woman. In that moment, he was a merciless executioner, his eyes void of the earlier kindness, replaced by a chilling resolve that struck fear in those who saw it. Perhaps Xiao Yin and Ye Wangchen were right—too much mercy had no place on the path to becoming a king. Compassion was a weakness; he did not seek enlightenment but strength to defy heaven and gods alike.

“You don’t need to pretend to be righteous. I know what you want—my death here, so I disappear forever. If you have the courage, then do it. But even in death, I will never forgive you. This grudge will be paid back; don’t expect a peaceful life!” The skeletal woman, struggling on the ground, spat out these words, laden with deep hatred and bitter rage. What had she done to deserve such torment? First, her family was wiped out. Then, revenge proved impossible. Now, facing death herself, misfortune seemed to have claimed her entirely. Soon, though, she would find release from suffering.

Yu Shang gave a faint, sorrowful smile and prepared to strike, dagger poised to end the pitiful life. But suddenly, several droplets of water streaked from afar, forcefully blocking his blade. At the same time, a shadow darted forth from the darkness, whisking away the dying skeletal woman in the blink of an eye. Xiao Yin hurried after but was stopped by Yu Shang after only a few steps—he signaled him to halt.

“Perhaps her fate is not yet to end. Let her go for now. No need to add another death to our hands. Xiao Yin, don’t you think we’ve already sacrificed too much for our goals? If possible, let them live—and let us live as well,” Yu Shang said gloomily, watching the direction the skeletal woman fled. Honestly, in that fleeting moment, he felt as if he saw the woman he once loved. The thought of her dying at his hand for reasons unknown made it impossible for him to erase those memories so coldly again.

Perhaps it was a blessing that the butterfly still lived—it proved that the beautiful past was not a mere illusion but a cherished time that could never be reclaimed. In the stillness of midnight dreams, Yu Shang often recalled the scene: mercilessly slaying the beloved woman and turning away. To this day, he did not know where her body lay, nor could he find a final resting place to bid farewell, relying only on faint memories of her radiant face.

“I really can’t deal with you, you stubborn boy. If you die because of this, don’t say I didn’t warn you! It’s maddening—how can you watch your enemy escape and even secretly rejoice that she survived? I just don’t understand you anymore!” Xiao Yin shouted angrily. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand—he simply chose not to. Both he and Yu Shang had felt a strange presence, as if that woman had appeared again in a hazy vision, carrying away the skeletal woman before their eyes.

Could that detestable woman really be alive? Impossible. When he had stirred the pot earlier, helping Yu Shang, she had been gravely wounded, beyond hope—there was no way she could have survived until now. This matter was becoming stranger by the day. Xiao Yin suspected a conspiracy behind these bizarre coincidences. They would have to be cautious going forward. Whether she was truly alive or not, they could not allow her near Yu Shang again. She had already brought tragedy once; they could not permit history to repeat itself.

“I suspect there are many secrets I do not yet know. It makes me curious—what was it you saw in that moment of shock? Something none of us could perceive, or something we could not imagine? I must say, the mysteries surrounding you are many, and they draw me ever closer, eager to unravel them one by one,” Ye Wangchen said with a wicked smile, watching Yu Shang’s troubled expression. Truly, his fascination with him only grew stronger.